ABERDEEN â Outgoing Mayor Maurice Howard, 36, pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a public official Monday in Monroe County Circuit Court.
Judge John White sentenced his removal from office and 10 years in Mississippi Department of Corrections custody with the time being suspended. He will not serve any jail time. Howard was also ordered to repay court costs of $431.50, a bond fee of $200 and the victimâs bond fee of $10, in addition to restitution in the amount of $8,226 to Old Republic Surety Company of Milwaukee.
There is no minimum sentence on the charge, but the maximum is 20 years with a $5,000 fine.
The criminal charges were brought forth by the Mississippi State Auditorâs office. They stem from trips he was reimbursed for in 2017 with taxpayer funds that he never took.
How one government auditor improved employee training
Stephanie Palmertree receives an Impact award for designing an effective CPE program that increased efficiency.
By Teri Saylor
Stephanie Palmertree, CPA, CGMA, is the director of the Mississippi State Auditor s financial and compliance division, which routinely conducts and manages annual audits of 134 state agencies and component units, 158 school districts and community colleges, and 82 county governments.
She has been recognized for her efforts to ensure the 80 employees in her division and other government auditors across the state receive high-level certified professional education (CPE) and training to enable them to excel at their jobs.
The AICPA has presented Palmertree with the 2020 Outstanding CPA in Government Impact Award at the state level for developing an effective continuing education program for her agency. Her work includes designing professional and personal development programs that have improved teamwork
A woman who served as a board member and officer of the Pearl River County Crimestoppers is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the organization.